European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 14, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse Sunday february 14, 1993 the stars and stripes a Page 9service club a Haven by Mark k1nkade staff writer Bremerhaven Germany Angie Cramer says she Max know More sailors than any woman in the world. Its a claim she s proud of. For 18 years Cramer has worked in a club on the Edge of Bremerhaven a red Light District. But any Sailor who has met her will gladly defend her reputation. Cramer is a surrogate sister Mother and Counselor to thousands of sailors soldiers. Marines and military people from around the world who have stopped. In at the United Seaman a service club in. Bremerhaven. Bantering with people she has not seen in years she has an air of easy Friendship Given without reservation. A they always remember me when they come in Quot she said. A and i never forget them. I May not remember a name but i remember the face.�?�. The service club is a gathering place for american military and civilians alike As Well As sailors from around the world said Sam James club manager for the last three years. People can eat drink or relax in the modestly decorated dub. The dub is one of Bremerhaven s Best known gathering places for sailors coming into the port. Most of them meet in the dub to grab a bite to eat have a few drinks and Call Home before starting an evening in the bar District. In the time Cramer has worked there she has been harassed by Only one Sailor a saudi arabian and he stopped when others in the club asked him to. She has also been proposed to by More men than she can remember but she has never been propositioned. A for some i am a Mother a a she said. A i share their secrets and i help them when i can. For others in a a Little sister and they try to take care of me. I m the safest Giri in this the Bremerhaven club is one of 11 such dubs throughout the world that act As a Type of Community club for merchant marines. Clubs in Morocco Korea Italy Japan Guam Diego Garcia and the Philippines Are an Extension of the United Seaman s service a Relief Agency formed 50 years ago by an act of Congress to give. Mariners and their families help in emergencies and when at sea James said. The organization first came to life during world War ii when it established rest Homes for traumatized seafarers suffering from Convoy fatigue. Now according to Talmage e. Simpkins president of the service it give sailors a place to relax Contact family and a replenish the dub is a Lifeboat in a sea of bars a Safe zone for americans who want to lie Low. Kevin Ginther a 26-year-old Chicago native makes the club a routine Stop every Day. He was introduced to the club in the Early Days of his tour As a Soldier at nearby Karlstedt when members of his company took him to the club before a night on the town. He has been a regular every since he said. A a it a a quiet atmosphere a said Ginther now a civilian living in the Bremerhaven Community. A the discos Are too loud these Days. They Arentt fun Ginther lives Only a few Yards from the club and can be found at the bar most weeknights. For him the club is a regular watering Hole offering a cheap Sandwich and a snatch of conversation with friends. A the foods Good its quiet and everyone is Laid Back a he said. The dub is an Odd mix of mid-1950s Juke joint diner Pool Hall and Rescue. Mission. Fish nets anchors life preservers and cheap Oil paintings of Long forgotten mariners compete with Pool tables menus and Beer signs for customers attention in a cozy mix of the comfortably worn and blatantly commercial. Billiard tables and Dart boards rest Angle Cramer serves drinks at the United Seaman s service club just As she has for the last 18 years. Ass Marti Kinkad a amps Marti a Lakada Sam James manager of the United Seaman s service club in Bremerhaven Germany talks with waitress Suzan Stein. Only a few feet from a family dining area and a Steep staircase climbs through the dark rafters to an overstuffed bookshelf of paperback novels. A Small gift shop near the Entrance of the club offers everything from German Beer mugs and hats to country and Western music tapes. The Cashiers Cage which exchanges currency is Wall papered with Money from different countries. Sailors soldiers and some of Bromer havens most desperate find Solace in the club James said. Sometimes prostitutes from the District will sit quietly in the Booths smoking cigarettes and drinking Coffee while they shake off the cold of the North sea nights. But they Aren t looking for business when they come in the club James said. A they come in Here for a Little peace Quot James said. Quot they know they can come in get some food or a cup of Coffee and no one will hassle them. They Arentt working when they come in and they done to for Richard Hill a merchant Marine working on the freighter Galveston Bay out of South Carolina its his second trip to the dub in As Many years. He first came to the club because of its reputation. �?o1 knew it was a Cool place to go Quot he said. A everyone is pretty Cool Here and you can spend Hill like most of the seafarers who Stop in said he was on his Way to other. Foreign ports and knew this club was the last he would see of America for at least another month. Visiting faraway lands May be fun for a Short time but there s no place like Home. A this is the Only place where you can touch base Quot he said. A you get fed up with some of those other sports. This is a Chance to catch up on the super bowl television and decent but the clubs drawing card is not the atmosphere or the food. According to James its the people that bring the sailors Back. A each port has special bars and hot spots they go to but we re something different one said. A people who come in Here come in to regroup to regain their sense of being. They touch Home when they come in. Ginther the expatriate american said the United states is a bar Stool away at the dub. A i can come in Here and talk about sports or politics Quot he said. A my wife does t want to go to America so i can come in Here Ana catch up on the sports or the life Back As the american soldiers leave the Bremerhaven area James knows his business will suffer but he Isnit worried. A we will stay Here a he said. A was Long As americans come into this port Well be Cramer plans to stay for similar reasons. A i have a lot of people out there who count on me to be Here when they get Back Quot she said. A eth eve re my family. I can to abandon them now. A
